When you are used to highway driving, taking the back roads home can seem a bit slow and out-of-sync with the normal routine.
We’ve been accustomed to many episodes of Dynamite kicking off in high gear, going 80mph down the Jersey Turnpike with a few periodic slowdowns near Exit 14 for Newark. AEW Dynamite 9/28 took a detour and gave the fans a slightly toned down episode with a few periodic speed-ups.
Not every episode can be of PPV quality, which is something I spoke of many times in the early days of AEW, delivering too many supercard or PPV level TV shows could spoil fans, wear out the novelty, or both. I imagine the show was toned down due to Hurricane Ian.
The show starts off with the Jericho Celebration, with the new Ring of Honor Champion calling himself “The Ocho” adding an eight major world championship to his trophy case. We get Luigi Primo delivering fresh pizzas to celebrate while Jericho tells the audience to “Appreciate Him.” Clearly the riff on Roman Reigns continues. As they jokingly celebrate, Jericho presents Garcia with a gift which should “fit his character.”
It’s a Bucket hat. Garcia snaps and decks Luigi Primo. He goes off on Jericho and his lack of respect and the sports-entertainment nonsense. In a glorious set-up, Jericho questions whether he is a “sports-entertainer” or a “professional wrestler.” You can imagine how the live crowd reacted.
Byran Danielson enters before an answer is made, and we get our first match of the night, where the American Dragon defeats “Daddy Magic” Mike Menard. Pretty good match. On paper Danielson should have wiped the floor with him, but instead Menard looked like a legit opponent.
MJF – Wheeler Yuta segment
I love AEW has a lot of faith in Yuta, but the hometown Philadelphia hero got murdered in the promo department. The kid’s got grit and fire, is likely going to become one of the best wrestlers of this era, but you can’t throw him to the Aryeh of AEW without consequences. Yuta has heart, but MJF is unstoppable.
Rampage promo: Jay Lethal will take on Darby Allin
Jon Moxley defeated “Rock Hard” Juice Robinson
It was a great match, Robinson, since joining Bullet Club has embraced a violent personality and vicious ring style. However, even in a non-title “eliminator” match, it seemed apparent the outcome was obvious.
When you announce a “major” match like this, and hype up another “Forbidden Door” scenario, it might be OK to surprise and shock us with Mox losing. He is being built up as unbeatable once again. He is the current face of AEW and legitimately putting his heart into the company.
However, I don’t see a need to portray him as unstoppable. If he would have lost to Robinson (which he has to in New Japan), it would have shocked the crowd, and set up a believable title match in the future.
But that’s just me.
“Hangman” Adam Page hit the ring to staredown Mox, as Hangman is the current contender for the championship. However, MJF from the private skybox reminds Mox and Page, they are facing each other to determine who will lose to him. The crowd suddenly erupts in cheers, as Yuta is baaaaaaack, attacking the Salt of the Earth in an intense brawl which spills into the crowd.
Now that’s what you do with Yuta. Forget the mic, beat people up!
Saraya promo: The former Paige admitted to being a bit rusty and nervous to take the mic on her return. Classy move, being humble and acknowledging being away can make one a bit shaky, and to dispel unnecessarily high expectations. Great to see her back, but I was confused to hear her resort to her similar motto from WWE about leading a women’s revolution and changing the women’s division. She called out the women’s locker room, but only Toni Storm, Athena, Madison Rayne, Willow Nightingale, and Skye Blue. Not exactly what I would have expected. However, Dr. Britt Baker arrives with Reba (Rebel), Jaime Hayter, and Penelope Ford. Massive crowd chants for Hayter. Massive.
Lumberjack Match as ordered by Saraya, Toni Storm retains the Women’s Championship against Serena Deeb
I thought we would have seen some massive interference leading to a title change. Have we ever seen an “interim championship” change hands yet? This was a really good match, Deeb and Storm brought the best out of each other, ending when Storm spikes Deeb with a RHINODRIVER for the win. For those who never saw him in ECW, Rhino’s finishing move was a second rope piledriver.
Ricky Starks defeated Eli Isom
That’s it. Spear, Ro-Sham-Bo.
Can we get more Starks please? Better matches maybe?
Main Event of AEW Dynamite 9/28: Chris Jericho retains the Ring of Honor World Championship against Bandido
I can’t speak for everyone, but I enjoy watching ROH Championship matches on AEW television. Great seeing Bobby Cruise on introductions. Kudos to the commentary team and the addition of Ian Riccaboni to highlight Bandido’s long history with the promotion with emphasis on Bandido never losing the championship, having vacated it due to COVID. Jericho’s disrespect is on full display, as the initial handshake is mocked.
However, the match was fantastic. I’ll sound like a broken record if I have to, 2022 has been an incredible wrestling year for Jericho. This is also a match I didn’t have on any bingo card I could imagine. Jericho ultimately resorted to underhanded tactics to score the win.
Major highlight was Bandido holding Jericho up for a vertical suplex for well over a minute. Good lord.
Post match, Jericho is on the mic, and makes no subtlety, intent on disrespecting everything about Ring of Honor. He will run through their champions, run through their locker room, destroy their legacy, and even destroy their time keepers… and ring announcers. Bobby Cruise stares in shock as Jericho floors him with a Judas Effect.
Oh. Oh boy. We have a very dastardly Jericho now. Very sinister. I like this. If he truly means facing champions, we could see Jericho versus Samoa Joe, Jay Lethal, Adam Cole, and more.
This will be a fantastic build to create a new hero for Ring of Honor, and we all know who it will be:
Daniel Garcia.
