AEW Dynamite 11/1 kicks off with MJF and Adam Cole via zoom. Weird segment which includes a whining Roderick Strong. MJF needs some partners for tonight.
Orange Cassidy defeats Claudio Castignoli to retain the AEW International Championship
Great opening match. I didn’t believe Claudio would win the title, but thought perhaps he would win via count out or DQ. Claudio is a one-man wrecking machine. Workhorse. Super-human.
During the bout, Wheeler Yuta and Hook nearly came to blows but were ejected from ringside.
Post match, Mox stormed the ring and beat the hell out of what was left of O.C. In a post-match promo later, he promises to regain the championship he should never have lost.
MJF searching in the locker room for a partner, tries to recruit Kenny Omega, but is greeted by Chris Jericho who slams the door in his face. A mad Wardlow shows up to choke MJF, threatening a future of misery. But wait! The Acclaimed arrive to recruit MJF, but Caster fails.
The Gates of Agony and Brian Cage regain the ROH Six-Man Tag Team Championships from “Hangman” Adam Page and the Young Bucks
Good match back and forth, until Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana show up to taunt Hangman, taking the bait, chasing his antagonists to the back for a brawl. This leaves the Bucks at the mercy of the Embassy and loss. Brian Cage may lack charisma, but he can impress with some inhuman power.
Post-match, Matt Jackson snaps and breaks stuff at ringside.
MJF continues to search for partners, rethinks Samoa Joe, then defaces the sign for Darby Allin. Suddenly a wild Max Caster appears again, but fails. DAMMIT MAX!!
In the ring, Tony Schiavone is with Adam Copeland to address Christian Cage. This goes south fast as Cage steps out from the back with both Kaneasaurus and Nick Wayne. Cage promises to break Copeland’s neck. The trio assault Copeland, who is saved by Sting and Darby Allin. Welp we get the trios match we expected, Copeland, Sting and Allin vs. Christian Cage, Luchasaurus, and Nick Wayne.
It’s announced by Tony Khan and Nigel McGuiness, the 2024 All In PPV will once again take place at Wembley Stadium with tickets going on sale December 1st. However, there is a special signup online to gain early access to purchasing tickets.
Not the announcement we expected, but that’s okay.
Golden Jets (Chris Jericho & Kenny Omega) defeated 2-point-0
On commentary is Don Callis with Konosuke Takeshtia, Will Ospreay, and Powerhouse Hobbs behind him. Short match. This serves to give Callis the forum to challenge Jericho, Omega and two partners to face his family. Omega announces Kota Ibushi and Jericho says he called his “giant” friend… Paul Wight.
I’m not sure how I feel about this, but it’s going to be interesting to watch. One has to wonder how much Wight has in the tank to compete with guys much younger.
Backstage, Jericho and Omega talk with Renee Paquette, but are interrupted by an angry Matt and Nick Jackson. Matt angry with Omega allowing Jericho into his good graces. Matt takes step further and wonders why they bothered to reform The Elite if they don’t have each other’s backs or bother teaming together anymore? Matt tells Kenny not to trust Jericho.
All good questions. All good questions indeed.
Hikaru Shida retains the AEW Women’s Championship against Willow Nightingale.
No more black-misted eye for Willow. This could have been a match where Willow winning would have been believable if it was non-title. Again, my one gripe about AEW. Not every match has to be a championship bout. Granted, the matches are still great, but if the outcome could be a bit unpredictable they would be more enjoyable. After numerous knee strikes, Shida gets the pinfall. Show of respect afterwards. Toni Storm arrives with Lutha the Butler and we get another post-match brawl backstage.
Julia Hart shows up, ready to mist Willow again, but is interrupted by Skye Blue. She teases turning on Willow, but then double-crosses Hart and spits blue mist in her face!
Backstage: MJF is sulking on the floor as The Acclaimed approaches him one more time. Even offering a present should he team with them. He says he has one more stable to try, and grimaces as Team Jarrett cackle like Saturday Morning Cartoon Villains.
We know where this is heading.
AEW Dynamite 11/1 Main Event: Bullet Club Gold defeated MJF and The Acclaimed
Good match. Tense match all the way through, lots of intense moments. Great exchange between Billy Gunn and his sons in the ring. Lots of teasing MJF and Jay White in the ring, but the never locked up until the very end when MJF Kangaroo Kicked Juice Robinson and one of the Gunns, but fell prey to White hitting his finisher for the win. Post-match brawl sees Max Caster taking the bullet, pushing MJF out of the way when White struck with the belt. We get the big four-way scissor with MJF.
Nice moment for the end of the show. Not a bad Dynamite, not everything clicked, but it doesn’t always have to. Lots of hype for the next few weeks going towards Full Gear.
