AEW Dynamite 9/23 took the unpredictability meter and lobbed it out a window. Thanks to reports of COVID on both AEW and NXT rosters, a lot of creative restructuring took place. Instead of a six-man main event tag match, we got Eddie Kingston vs Jon Moxley in an AEW Championship match. This worked well into Eddie’s claims of deserving a title match.
I was stoked, but not so happy with the title being on the line. Felt like it killed the chances of Kingston earning a win. However, this is not the first time they wrestle, and hopefully not the last.
There was a number of weird spots, blown spots, and easily spotted botches. Here’s the thing, I don’t mind. I didn’t mind in WWE and I don’t mind in AEW. Sure, expectations and criticism is higher these days, but these guys are performers and mistakes happen.
Kip Sabian & Miro w/ Penelope Ford defeated Joey Janela & Sonny Kiss
Kiss and Janela make a great team, but seem to be going the way of odd pairings like the early ’90s of WWF, where Tito Santana and Virgil would go up against more established duos as enhancement talent. Or Jim Powers and Jim Brunzell. I think they won once. They are fun to watch in the ring, and Kiss earned the MVP for most ring time, and being subjected to the “Game Over” submission by Miro. Bit botchy of a match, Miro at one point landed awkwardly on the outside and appeared to twist his ankle. I freaked out thinking he had been injured in his first AEW match.
I will say, Miro looked to be in good shape, seems he spent his time off well without getting lax.
“Hangman” Adam Page defeated Evil Uno
This match was a whole lot better than I anticipated. Uno as a singles wrestler impressed me. I admit, I didn’t know much about him during his time as a Super Smash Brother on the indies, but his match with Page sold me. Page was solid as usual. He can go from no-nonsense to emotional firebrand in moments. I am impressed every single time he does his running Shooting Star Press. I’m also impressed when no one dies after Uno squashes someone with his top-rope swanton bomb. The bit with the ref was a tad cheesy, and I think that might have been a blown spot. The match had it’s slow-down moments but also its sudden fast-paced action. Big thumbs up
Backstage: Young Bucks – I’m sold on the Bucks going heel. It had to happen. I’m just not 100% sold on the method. It’s very 80’s, where the good guys suddenly beat up random folks around. It does harken to their indy/Bullet Club days of just superkicking the crap out of anyone. Similar to a few weird bits by Shawn Michaels when he would go on superkick rampages in comedy style. Bucks have a good mix, as these superkick-busting moments can be funny, with the added tossing of hundreds in the air.
Here’s the conundrum. Is the heel turn serious, or the heel turn funny? Matt has been doing most of the talking, and he generally comes off a bit snarky, so at times it’s hard to tell. I suppose as the weeks progress we will see a clearer picture. I wouldn’t mind the comedy bit, because as AEW has shown, it’s about enjoying the program. Tony Schiavone probably didn’t enjoy his phone being smashed up. But the good news is, Matt Jackson probably tossed him enough money to upgrade to the latest.
You know, I’ll eat a superkick and get paid for it… Now THAT would be a great gimmick. “Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase style. Remember his shtick? Do something embarrassing and get a $100 bill for it.
I’ll eat a superkick for $1000. My fee is higher.
“Brusier” Brodie Lee retained the TNT Championship against Orange Cassidy.
By golly was this one a slobberknocking fun one. Come on, you have love watching the Sloth of the Squared Circle get pounded on, only to come back each time, infuriating the champion. His flop routine as Brodie tried a big clothesline was funny. Even after the third time. Once more, with feeling, proving Cassidy can hang in big matches, and Lee is the superb character everyone knew he could be when given the chance. I still don’t like how much he F-Bombs on the BTE YouTube show. This was a good match, despite pointless interference by the Dark Order, except for the spot where they catch a flying Orange, to be crushed by a flying Lee.
Okay J.R. we get it, you want us to call him “Bruiser” Brody Lee because he reminds you of Brusier Brody. We get it. He’s got the old school lariat, the old school roughhousing style. I agree with the assessment, but until he goes Texan, we don’t need the gimmick.
OH MY LORD IT’S CODY!
The American Nightmare is back, with darkened hair, decked in all black, and that high collar shirt still can’t hide that atrocious tattoo. He clears the ring of Dark Order, and it would appear the Golden Boy of AEW is sporting a darker persona to battle the dark order. This was likely needed due to the sudden need for change in plans.
Chris Jericho and the Inner Circle confront Matt Hardy and Private Party.
Matt and his protégé duo were out first to accuse the Inner Circle of orchestrating last week’s attack. Quen and Kassidy want revenge. Out comes Demo God and his troupe. The segment felt all sorts of weird, no blame being placed on anyone, it just felt as though Private Party need to improve their own mic skills and story tellings as each took turns on the mic. I wouldn’t say it fell flat, but they’ve got talent, and just need more exposure on the microphone. With practice comes success. Jericho did well to put them over while still berating them, a classic Jericho move. The cursing, again, might harken to intense ECW promos, but felt a bit forced in order to “up the drama” meter here.
Next week should be interesting if Jericho can make Isiah Kassidy look good in singles action.
The return of Sammy Guevara was a bit ill-timed, it had only been a month since he was last seen. The “big return” didn’t have that “wow” feel.
Tully Blanchard with FTR make some rules: Tully talks about old school 60-minute matches, but now decides to have AEW Tag Team Championship matches only last 20 minutes. Should it go to a draw, FTR is awarded the win. Interesting. They will compete every week on Dynamite. That’s fantastic. Only worry, is how FTR just became champions, so it would seem strange if they were to lose the titles so soon. Best Friends attempted to get a title bout through challenge, but Blanchard says SCU is first, next week.
Hikaru Shida & Thunder Rosa defeated Diamante and Ivelisse
I’ll take this match again please. Really good match, a few missed spots along the way, but I don’t mind. A lot of great ring chemistry between the four women, it’s clear they could gel easily either in tag matches or singles bouts. This is the type of quality the women’s division needs in AEW. We need more of this, and soon. I still feel that AEW has potential for a great women’s division, but there’s a giant sign which says “Under Construction.”
Mox defeated Eddie Kingston to retain the AEW Championship
As I said earlier, not every match involving a champion has to be for the title. Kills a bit of the hype. Regardless, this was a legit stiff match. Mox’s chest was bruised red from the massive chops he took. Mox nearly breaks Kingston with a stiff piledriver. Brawling all over the area. Good grief, this should have fans chanting E-C-DUB all night. Given a bit more time, and possibly a PPV spot, this could have turned into a bloodbath. Tonight was about quick improvisation and putting a slam dunk main event. The ending brawl ran a bit too long, but I will say one thing… HOT DAMN THAT SPINEBUSTER Mr. Hobbs breaks out. Holy Moses. Arn Anderson might have crapped himself.
 but still big fun with Cody's return.){kind=link}
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