It’s getting closer! With just a week and change to go, the heat is on for AEW to put on some solid shows to heavily push one of the biggest pay-per-views of the year.
AEW Dynamite 8/14/24 show mixed evenly with wrestling and promos, producing some mixed reactions as well.
Opening the show was the TBS Championship bout, with Mercedes Mone retaining against Hikaru Shida. Pretty good match overall, couldn’t help but notice Mone using multiple meteoras throughout the match. While evenly paced, a few things felt off, but not enough to be a major deterrent for the match. Of course, Kamille had to interfere so Mone could win and Shida does not lose cleanly. After the match the heels attacked a “fan” who appeared to be in disguise, but it was a ruse as Dr. Britt Baker, DMD arrived.
Mone going as heel should have taken place from the start. Her run has not been as impressive as many would have hoped, but it does seem the more she wrestles the better she gets. Promos are fine, she wants us to hate her and knows how to do it.
Hangman Adam Page defeated Jay Lethal
This backstage segment led right into the match as Page attacked Lethal during said interview. Jeff Jarrett has become more of a mentor figure as his on-screen character and it works very well. Lethal and Page had a great match, until Page seemed to park his opponent on his head one too many times. Lethal looked completely out of it after Page knocked him loopy with a discus lariat. Buckshot, match over.
I thought a loss would make Hangman crazier. If Page isn’t facing Jarrett at All In one-on-one, then I assume Page will be in the Casino Battle Royal and winning it.
Backstage: Mina Shirakama is interviewed following a taped promo from Mariah May. Renee Paquette asked about where her loyalty is, to which Mina does not give a definitive answer at all.
Orange Cassidy defeated Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong – Earns #1 spot for the Casino Match
Match of the night. Fantastic match which was superbly paced. The longer it went the better it got. The match was the most fun to watch tonight. Strong is a back-breaking monster. Kyle is a living weapon. They’re all just too good at what they do.
Backstage: Claudio and Okada have a war of words. Hyping up their big title bout for next week.
In the ring, Hook is back and challenges Chris Jericho for the FTW Championship. We’re getting it at All In.
The Young Bucks defeated The Acclaimed by DQ.
Pretty good match, but wasn’t spectacular. Everyone fulfilled their roles, doing what they needed to tell the story. However, after a ref bump, Bucks cheated but Acclaimed were saved by FTR. The Jacksons spit in their faces, resulting in a fight at a cemetery. DQ finish. So now, on Collision, FTR and Acclaimed with wrestle to determine new #1 contenders.
Swerve Strickland defeated Wheeler Yuta
Pretty darn good main event, one can forget Yuta is capable of main eventing when needed. Yuta held his own for a long time until Swerve took full control. He destroyed Yuta as a finish with multiple House Calls, prompting Danielson to intervene. Swerve promises Danielson will never wrestle again.
Very good episode. Felt a bit toned down from last week, and that is OK. I imagine next week’s Dynamite is going to be the big send off before the PPV.
AEW Dynamite 8/14/23 is now streaming on the TBS app.
