A jam packed Dynamite, a hot Washington crowd, and Double or Nothing just under two weeks away.
WHERE ARE THE WORKHORSEMEN?! Give me Anthony Henry and JD Drake!
The show opens with BCC members Bryan Danielson and IWGP Champion Jon Moxley defeating Kyle Fletcher and Jeff Cobb
Never a complaint to have an opener with big name wrestlers. While some may not consider Fletcher and Cobb big names for mainstream audiences, AEW audiences also have come to follow the pursuits of many New Japan wrestlers as well. Considering Fletcher had a few big matches recently, one against Ospreay, he should be featured as much as possible. Nice touch having Danielson’s theme continue playing while everyone brawled around ringside until the bell rang. Very ECW-esque. Fun to watch.
Post match saw the rest of the Callis family rush down for a brawl, capped by Claudio Castignoli chasing them off. Takeshita appeared to motion to Mox for the IWGP World Championship.
Takeshita! Where have you been! Victim of overcrowded roster perhaps? If he is going to challenge Mox for the IWGP World Championship at Double or Nothing, then he’s got to be put on TV every show for the next two weeks.
It is also announced Eddie Kingston will be pulled from the Anarchy in the Arena match due to his injuries in his match with Gabe Kidd.
Could it be Mox? Claudio? Someone else?
Adam Copeland and Malakai Black were supposed to have some sort of in-ring promo segment, but rather use words, The House of Black used brute force to maul the Rated-R Superstar, and steal his wedding band.
Commentary did a good job of highlighting how Copeland has “not been right” since this feud began, specifically how he almost turned on Kyle O’Reilly after their match on Collision.
Putting Black and Copeland in a dangerous type of match is going to set expectations extremely high. For the social media warriors, those expectations will likely become unattainable. I would have preferred some more one-on-one or tag matches, with this being the big send-off.
Honestly, I want Malakai to win and take the TNT Title. Problem is, what do you do after a match like this?
The EVPs defeated Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal
This was a fun match, despite the outcome being predictable as anything. When was the last time either Daniels or Sydal had a high-profile win, or a win at all on TV? Despite predictability, Daniels and Sydal made it look good. Bucks won following a TK Driver.
Post match, Matthew Jackson stole a line from Wade Barrett, delivering some bad news. Christopher Daniels has been fired.
Aw shucks.
Curry Man might want a job.
Jack Perry was on commentary, and if I didn’t know better, seems to be antagonizing Tony Schiavone a lot. Now, I do not want him in the ring, but maybe Tony can bring someone in to shut Perry up.
To be frank, the Bucks’ annoying behavior is expected at this point and “firing” the Fallen Angel didn’t really contribute much. But Jack Perry is unloading with very little filter and this is where The Elite angle is really shining.
Hook defeated Sebastian Wolfe
Done in under two minutes. Squashie McSquasherson. Hook calls out Jericho, he wants a rematch. Jericho continues this extremely awkward over-the-top friendly persona while competing with “Please Retire” chants from the Washington crowd. He had a funny comeback stating he’d wind up in every Hall of Fame there is, but he’s just not ready for that yet.
At least he was honest.
Shibata rushes the ring as Jericho and Big Bill brawl with Hook. Later backstage, it seems we might get Shibata vs. Hook in the near future… But a calm Samoa Joe appears! He questions the heart of both wrestlers, wondering why someone like Jericho is getting into their heads.
Even with the phone-assisted comedy from Shibata, the potential for Joe, Hook, and Shibata to be involved in an angle, or managerial role could be very exciting. Hook is still playing up the tough guy routine, and I wouldn’t want it to stop. Shibata doesn’t need a manager, but Hook would benefit from having Joe as a mouthpiece, even temporarily.
This “Learning Tree” angle needs to stop. This one isn’t working out. As least we didn’t have to hear about the Jericho Wormhole or Vortex or whatever got trademarked.
AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland defeated Brian Cage
“Don’t have him opening the show!”
“He shouldn’t be facing mid-carders!”
“He shouldn’t be in the middle of the show! You need a strong start to the show!”
“He should be main eventing!”
“He should only wrestle at Pay-Per-Views!”
I have to love the complete hypocrisy and stupidity of social media keyboard warriors. I do.
Swerve and Cage had an amazing match. I enjoyed it! If you didn’t, then it wasn’t for you. Opinions are not facts. Fickle fans. I haven’t been shy in the past about being skeptical when Brian Cage wrestles, but it largely depends who he is in the ring with. He worked extremely well with Swerve and together put on a match with both slower, wear-down moments with Cage in control, then picking up with some back-and-forth or Swerve speeding the pace up. The holy crap moment was Swerve deadlift Cage for a suplex with no leverage or assistance.
The earlier clips showing Swerve doing TV media runs and podcasts show Swerve is another guy who can be put in front of mainstream audiences. Joe as champion was great at it too. They both can present themselves very well.
After the match things got ugly when Christian Cage and the Patriarchy got involved. A busted open Swerve is taunted by the heels waving around a family photo, capped with Cage calling Swerve and absentee father.
Ouch.
When Prince Nana returns holy crap the pop is gonna be huge.
AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm defeated Harley Cameron
Match was fine, Storm wins while Serena Deeb looks on. Honestly, her promo backstage prior to their match was freakin’ hysterical. I am guessing Toni Storm is coming up with all this material on her own. Watch the segment. Do it.
I wonder if Storm will drop the title to Deeb and regain it later on. Deeb’s comeback was largely pushed, it would be a shame if the loss sends her way back down the ladder. Deeb is a phenomenal wrestler and should be showcased as often as possible.
Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Mone have a contract signing
I’m never a fan of these. Never. It seemed the live audience felt the same way when the “C-E-O” was on the mic. I’m a bit concerned she’s worn out her welcome. Yes, there were more boos than cheers. If Mone makes the full heel turn, then pumping C-E-O adds to it since fans will try to drown it out by booing her.
Let’s talk about Willow, shall we? From day one in AEW, she quickly became one of my favorites. She naturally warmed fans and in return, fans wanted more of her on TV. A talented wrestler who initially did not cut very many promos is turning into someone who cuts great promos on the regular. A promo from last week was incredible. While her promo during the segment repeated much of it, it still garnered a positive reaction from the crowd, because Willow makes it feel REAL.
The segment ends with champion planting challenger through the table with a Doctor Bomb.
Mone has not wrestled at all. She could get injured within the first five minutes. Who knows? I fear she will win the title to push the heel character. It’s an easy sell. No ranking, cut in line, holier-than-thou attitude, and will likely have help. I’d rather Willow retain.
Dynamite closes with an over-run main event where Kazuchika Okada defeated Dax Harwood
Fantastic show-closing main event. Fantastic. Another example of matches we didn’t know we needed. Too many great sequences to mention, but what stood out the most is how every time Okada arrogantly thought he had the match, Dax proved otherwise. Dax certainly made referee Bryce Remsberg earn his paycheck with more than a few close two-counts. He’s an example of a wrestler who conveys emotion in the ring, facial expressions are KEY.
After the match, The Elite rushed out and brawled with Dax, Cash Wheeler, and Bryan Danielson. When it appears the Elite are dominating… a theme we never expected to hit, and an insane DARBY ALLIN APPEARS!!
The guy broke his foot, got hit by a damn bus, and somehow cleared to do an Anarchy in the Arena match?!? I don’t know what to say! Darby truly has a death wish.
I am so bummed Eddie Kingston is unable to compete. Ugh. It’s killing me, and yes he’s my favorite wrestler. Darby taking his place is completely unexpected and out of left field. I’m thinking Mox or Claudio, but Darby. Man. I’m thrilled to see him mobile, I just don’t want to see him dead.
Dynamite was a fun show, definitely hit the marks for pushing Double or Nothing. Very enjoyable.
