The John Report: AEW Dynamite 06/04/21 Review
Welcome to the AEW Dynamite review here on TJRWrestling. I did not review last week’s Dynamite on Friday night because I was busy with the Double or Nothing preview on Saturday and then I reviewed the Double or Nothing pay-per-view on Sunday. This week’s Dynamite was also on Friday because NBA Playoffs have taken over TNT on Wednesdays and will do so for most of this month as well. The 10pm ET Friday slot means it is right after WWE Smackdown ends. It won’t be an issue next year when Dynamite is on TBS in the US. For me, it’s still TSN in Canada. This Dynamite show was live. They are taping two weeks of shows over this weekend, so we’ll see those shows in the coming weeks.
This is AEW Dynamite from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, FL. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport. Here’s my AEW Dynamite TV review archive. Let’s get to it.
The AEW intro video was shown. There was a good sized crowd at Daily’s Place as the fireworks went off. “It’s Friday night and you know what that means” as JR says to begin the show with a Brodie Lee tribute. Jim Ross was joined by Tony Schiavone and Excalibur on commentary.
Pac and Penta El Zero Miedo entered for a match. The announcers claimed that The Young Bucks injured Jon Moxley with their weak looking knees. Moxley’s wife Renee Paquette is due to have their baby any day now, so it should give Moxley some time off. The Young Bucks made their entrance as the AEW Tag Team Champions with all of the guys in their group. The announcers tried to tell us they injured Rey Fenix, who is already out of action with an injury. Frankie Kazarian attacked Michael Nakazawa at ringside. Pac and Penta hit dives onto the Young Bucks on the floor. Pac and Penta attacked both Young Bucks on the floor for a few minutes.
Analysis: It was smart to put this on first because it’s a main event level match. However, when the show is starting at 10pm you might not have as many viewers in the second hour since it’s so late, so starting off with a big match is the right call.
The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. Pac & Penta El Zero Miedo
The bell finally rang with Don Callis on commentary. Penta hooked Matt’s arms for a two count. Nick tagged in, Penta with a kick, Matt with a tag and Penta kicked him too. Pac back in with a leap over the top into a Cutter. Pac with a standing SSP for two as Nick broke up the pin. Penta with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker to Nick. Pac with a charge on Nick against the turnbuckle. Matt hid behind Brandon Cutler, then Nick got a cheap shot kick and Matt did some comedy routine running around the ring leading to a clothesline. Cutler was cleaning Matt’s shoes during the match as Pac came back with a clothesline. Nick in illegally, knocked Penta off the apron and hit a moonsault on the floor. Matt hit a Spear on Pac. Pac avoided both Young Bucks in the ring and Pac hit a huge German Suplex on Nick. Penta got the tag with a Slingblade on both Bucks, Penta with a double knee attack on Matt and Penta hit a backstabber to Nick. Matt tagged back in, Penta lifted him up and hit a sitout slam for two with Nick saving his brother. Pac with kicks to the ribs, Matt with an elbow and then Pac hit a sitout Ligerbomb for two. Penta tagged in with a double foot stomp onto Matt’s groin for two. The referee did nothing about a blatant low blow. Nick was back in, Pac and Penta hit double thrust kicks and after an exchange, Penta hit a Destroyer on Nick. Matt tagged in with a Destroyer of his own on Penta. Pac and Matt were on the apron, the other two guys joined them as Penta hit a package piledriver on Matt and Nick hit a German Suplex on Pac. Nick pulled inept referee Rick Knox in front of him, so Penta ran into him and Nick thought he took off Penta’s mask, but Penta had a second mask on. Penta kicked Nick in the groin (the referee didn’t see), the Fear Factor piledriver and Pac tagged in with the Black Arrow splash off the top on Nick for two, but Matt made the save. Pac went up top, Cutler hit Pac in the leg and Nick pinned Pac to win after 10 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)
Analysis: ***1/2 This was a good match with a lot of action. It was shorter than most of the Young Bucks matches. They followed the rules more than usual, but they still had moments that were shitty. There were several piledrivers or variations of it (like the Destroyer) throughout the match that are unable to beat people, so maybe cut back on using similar moves. Anyway, the Bucks were on the defensive the whole match while Pac/Penta did cool moves and then the Bucks win because of cheap interference from Cutler to piss off the fans. I like that it was a heelish ending.
Post match, The Young Bucks went after Penta for a double team move, but then Eddie Kingston made the save. The Young Bucks and Cutler retreated.
Analysis: It was a few months ago when Kingston was feuding with Penta and Pac, but it’s AEW where people turn all the time and then become allies again.
The announcers ran down what’s coming up.
(Commercial)
Interview with Mark Henry
Mark Henry made his entrance without a theme song. Tony Schiavone was in the ring for an interview. Henry will be one of the commentators on Friday on Rampage. Henry said that everybody knows how much he loves this business. Henry said that he’s not here to fix AEW because AEW is not broken. Henry said he’s there to turn the screws as they say on Busted Open. Tony asked Mark if he’s going to get back in the ring again. Henry said right now he’s not going to say yes, but he’s got a lot left in the tank (a line from a famous promo a long time ago).
Analysis: Good for Mark being in AEW if that makes him happy. He has lost a lot of weight, so even though he’s in his 40s, he could definitely wrestle again some day.
Andrade El Idolo is Introduced
Vickie Guerrero made her entrance shouting “excuse me” as she got into the ring. Vickie told Mark and Tony to get out of her ring. Vickie did her screaming promo introducing us to a man who has won championships around the world, he’s a third-generation wrestler and she did her “excuse me” yell again. Vickie introduced Andrade El Idolo. Excalibur had to act shocked by it.
Andrade El Idolo walked onto the ramp in a suit and made his way into the ring with Vickie Guerrero, who might be his manager in AEW. No theme music for him. Andrade said he used to say he was the face of Latinos, but today he is saying I will be the new face of All Elite Wrestling. The fans cheered. That was it. The announcers put it over as a huge surprise. I think it was expected.
Analysis: It’s a smart signing for AEW assuming they have signed Andrade to a full-time deal. Andrade is so talented, he was misused by WWE, then let go and now he’s got the skills to be one of the top guys in AEW if they use him right. I’m happy for Andrade, who is engaged to WWE’s Charlotte Flair. I don’t know when the wedding is, but it’s a talented couple, that’s for sure.
(Commercial)
It’s time for another AEW stable war with Cody Rhodes’ The Nightmare Family facing off against QT Marshall’s The Factory.
Cody Rhodes & Lee Johnson (w/Arn Anderson) vs. QT Marshall & Anthony Ogogo
Johnson with a dropkick on Marshall. Ogogo tagged in and faced off with Cody, who beat Ogogo at Double or Nothing. Ogogo with a belly-to-belly suplex across the ring. Cody with a flatliner takedown on Marshall, who was legal. Johnson with a back elbow and neckbreaker on Marshall. Johnson with a headscissors taking Marshall over the top to the floor. Johnson charged, Marshall avoided him and Ogogo hit a boot to the face.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Johnson hitting a dropkick on Marshall and Cody got the tag. Cody unloaded on Johnson with punches, a clothesline and a suplex into a slam. Cody with a monkey flip across the ring, uppercut punch and Cody hit a Disaster Kick on Ogogo on the apron. Cody with a powerslam on Marshall. Cody applied a Figure Four Leglock on Marshall and Ogogo delivered a Frog Splash off the top on Cody. Marshall hit a Diamond Cutter for two and Johnson hit a splash after the two count kickout, so he was late on that spot. Oops. Ogogo and Johnson went spilling out to the floor after a clothesline spot. Aaron Solow showed at ringside, the referee was distracted by him and Ogogo punched Cody with a KO Punch and Marshall pinned Cody to win after 10 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: QT Marshall & Anthony Ogogo
Analysis: **1/4 It was just an average tag team match. It’s the second straight cheap heel win in a tag team match. The timing was off on the pin breakup by Johnson too, so that hurt the match. Cody beat Ogogo at Double or Nothing, so now Ogogo’s team got the win back to keep the feud going. Even though Marshall pinned Cody, Ogogo was the one that looked like the star.
QT Marshall did a promo saying that he shocked the world while Tony Schiavone never believed in him. Marshall continued to celebrate with his guys in The Factory. The announcers tried to call it a “major upset.” Not really.
There were highlights shown of The Inner Circle beating The Pinnacle in the Stadium Stampede match at Double or Nothing. Poor FTR working only about four minutes in a 30 minute match.
Let’s Hear from The Inner Circle
The Inner Circle five man group led by Chris Jericho made their entrance with the crowd singing the “Judas” theme song.
Jericho introduced us to the 2021 Stadium Stampede champions, The Inner Circle. Jericho thanked the fans for their support. Jericho said he’s giving all the fans an Inner Circle Stadium Stampede shirt for free – they were under the chairs and the fans were holding them up. Jericho called Sammy Guevara the hero of Stadium Stampede. Sammy said he’s on such a high right now while talking about how he hit a 630 Splash to beat that idiot Shawn Spears. Sammy talked about doing the 630 Splash off his mom’s roof and from doing it off his mom’s roof to doing it in the main event, it’s a night he’ll never forget. Sammy said he loved the guys in the group as they shared a hug. Ortiz said what did they truly accomplish? They still have to hear them talking trash. Ortiz said to keep it real, FTR tried to end their careers by ending their careers with piledrivers through those tables. Ortiz said that this Inner Circle/Pinnacle shit is far from over. Jake Hager said that they can’t say when this is over. Hager said that all of them will take an ass whooping until they say it’s over. Hager called out Wardlow saying Wardlow beat him in a ring and Hager challenged Wardlow to an MMA cage fight on Dynamite in two weeks.
Jericho said that the war between The Pinnacle and Inner Circle is not over. Jericho is pissed off when he thinks about Shawn Spears and Wardlow Powerbombing him off the stage and putting him out for a month. Jericho said when he thinks about MJF it pisses him off. Jericho said that MJF tried to end Jericho’s career and life since MJF pushed him off the cage at Blood & Guts. Jericho thinks he was close to being lights out. Jericho said he has to settle the score and he must settle the score. Jericho said that beating up MFJ at Stadium Stampede wasn’t enough. Jericho said until he can ruin MJF’s career and life, this will never be over. Jericho said that MJF calls Jericho the “GOAT – Greatest of All Time” and if Chris is as good as MJF thinks Chris is, then Chris said he needs to and he’s going to beat MJF. Jericho said that this isn’t over. Jericho said that The Inner Circle never forgives and never f’n forgets. The Inner Circle did their middle finger pose to end it.
Analysis: Great promo from Jericho as usual. The others did a solid job as well. No speech from Ortiz. It was obvious that the feud wasn’t going to be done after Stadium Stampede because the rivalry was 1-1 in terms of big matches. They can set up some matches within the two groups with Santana/Ortiz facing FTR since Santana mentioned FTR. Jericho facing MJF seems obvious and could lead to Sammy/MJF down the road. Sammy could go after Shawn Spears for now. Then there’s the Hager/Wardlow MMA fight in two weeks, so it’s a way to keep the rivalry going.
(Commercial)
Orange Cassidy was backstage with Chuck Taylor, Trent and Kris Statlander the alien girl. They whined about how Cassidy should be AEW World Champion, but the “bad guys cheated” and they won. Cassidy said it’s not over.
The AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and Don Callis were in a production room with Alex Marvez interviewing them. Michael Nakazawa was nearby as well. Callis said that they had the raw footage about a conspiracy that AEW had to screw Kenny out of the AEW World Title. Marvez mentioned in three weeks, Omega has to defend the AEW World Title against Jungle Boy. Omega had his left hand taped up. Omega mocked Jungle Boy, but then hummed along to the theme song.
Analysis: It was okay for a heel promo. The conspiracy theory to screw Omega reminds me of Sami Zayn on Smackdown, so it’s not that original in wrestling right now.
Jungle Boy made his entrance for yet another tag team match on this show. The fans love the theme song of Jungle Boy, who earned an AEW World Title match after winning the Casino Battle Royal at Double or Nothing. Christian Cage was the runner up in the Casino Battle Royal and is now teaming with Jungle Boy. Private Party wrestles in dress clothes instead of wrestling gear now.
Private Party (Marq Quen & Isaiah Kassidy) w/Matt Hardy vs. Christian Cage & Jungle Boy
Christian was in there with Quen who tagged out to Kassidy. Excalibur plugged Saturday, June 26 as their next live show, so the next two weeks are taped. Boy and Christian hit a double team hiptoss on Boy. Kassidy and Quen went for a double team move, Boy fought out of it and hit a double arm drag off the ropes. Boy with a jumping kick on Quen on the apron, but then Kassidy held Boy’s foot. Boy jumped off the ropes and Quen hit a dropkick for two. Boy fought out of the heel corner, Christian tagged in and hit a running forearm. Christian stepped on Kassidy’s back across the ropes. Christian with an elbow smash off the middle ropes. Christian worked over Kassidy with punches, Matt with a distraction and Quen sent Christian into the top rope.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Private Party isolating Christian with a double team slam. Private Party did some five second posing mockery of Christian (and Edge). Private Party were very young when Edge and Christian were doing that over 20 years ago. They picked up Christian to mock the five second posing and then Christian hit a double reverse DDT on both guys. Jungle Boy got the hot tag with double axehandles, then a dropkick and a back elbow on Quen. Jungle Boy bounced off the ropes with a rebound clothesline. Boy with a twisting brainbuster and a DDT for two. Kassidy saved his partner from a submission attempt, so Christian punched Kassidy out of the ring. Kassidy with a thumb to the eye of Boy and Quen did a rollup with tights for two. Boy countered a charging Quen and then Christian hit a Spear on Cassidy. Boy applied the Snare Trap submission (like an STF) and Quen tapped out to give Jungle Boy the win after 12 minutes.
Winners by submission: Christian Cage & Jungle Boy
Analysis: *** A good tag team match. It’s nice to see AEW remembered to put Private Party in a tag team match on Dynamite because it’s been a while for them. It was smart booking to have Jungle Boy win the match for his team to continue his positive momentum. Since Jungle Boys faces Kenny Omega in three weeks, Jungle Boy should be winning matches like that.
Jungle Boy posed in the ring while Christian went onto the ramp. Matt Hardy attacked Christian from behind with a kick to the gut and Twist of Fate on the ramp. Jungle Boy checked on Christian as Matt ran away.
Analysis: It should set up Christian vs. Matt Hardy. Loved their tag team matches 20 years ago. Just saying.
Team Taz was shown backstage with Taz saying that Adam Page got lucky against Brian Cage. Taz said next week on Dynamite, Page will pick one of his buddies from The Dark Order against Brian Cage and Powerhouse Hobbs. While Taz was talking, Ricky Starks left. Taz said that Adam Page screwed around with the wrong club.
Analysis: It feels like Team Taz is failing and they lose big matches. They aren’t one of the strongest groups in AEW.
Let’s Hear from Sting & Darby Allin
Sting and Darby Allin entered for an in-ring interview with Tony Schiavone. Sting was wearing a cool Sting & Darby t-shirt. Sting said he has had so many incredible experiences in wrestling, but last Sunday at Double or Nothing will be a night that he will never, ever forget. Sting said that stands up to anything that he has ever done in this business. The fans chanted “you still got it” for the 62-year-old Stinger, who thanked the fans and said he appreciates all of them.
Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page appeared somewhere backstage. Sky said Sting was so good that he was even able to drag Darby Allin over the finish line. Page said when he threw Allin into the crowd, if it wasn’t for Sting, Darby would be laying there. Page said that Sting is carrying Allin through his AEW career, but all he sees is a co-dependent bitch. Sky told Darby to find anybody but Sting and see if he can prove them wrong. Darby Allin didn’t even say a word. That was strange.
Analysis: I guess that feud isn’t over. I like Ethan Page a lot as a talented Canadian and Scorpio Sky is really good too. Allin has had Sting helping him a lot over the last six months, so the heels did make some good points. I think Allin has a very bright future in AEW, but so do Page and Sky. I like this rivalry.
(Commercial)
Britt Baker AEW Women’s Championship Celebration
There were some wrestlers in the ring with a plate of McDonald’s hamburgers. Most of the wrestlers in the ring are people that rarely wrestle on Dynamite. Tony Schiavone introduced his friend Dr. Britt Baker, who entered with the AEW Women’s Title with Rebel by her side.
Baker thanked everybody for attending her championship celebration. Baker said she never thought she could one-up Chris Jericho because she was gifted 1500 burger coupons. Then Britt said that the stickers aren’t on the bottom because they are with her when they belong. In other words, Britt is a heel. Britt said that when she’s on TV, your eyes are glued on her and you can’t look away. Britt said at Double or Nothing she saw “DMD” all over the place and heard that chanted all night long. Britt said “DMD” will elevate AEW to a whole new stratosphere with Britt as the AEW Women’s Champion.
Britt interviewed two people that can grab a burger, so Tony and Rebel grabbed their burgers. Then Nyla Rose showed up to knock the burgers down. Nyla tossed the plate of cheeseburgers alone. Some of the jobbers in the ring were overacting to it. Nyla left. Baker was mad about it.
Analysis: The celebration was okay. Baker is a strong promo especially among the AEW women’s division. I guess Nyla Rose will be one of Baker’s first opponents after that reaction to Baker’s celebration. Rose has been a heel like Baker, so maybe Rose is ready to turn face or they’ll have Baker be more of the face. Baker was very heelish here. Then again, AEW doesn’t seem to care about heel and face as much as most wrestling companies do.
Eddie Kingston was interviewed backstage by Alex Marvez. Pac and Penta showed up saying they don’t want or need Eddie’s help. Kingston said that the enemy of my enemy is my friend and told them to let that marinate.
Analysis: In other words, Moxley was targeting the Young Bucks and not trying to save Pac/Penta necessarily.
The Bunny entered with The Blade. They are married. Red Velvet is straight outta your momma’s kitchen and joined by Big Swole and Kylinn King.
The Bunny (w/The Blade) vs. Red Velvet (w/Big Swole and Kylinn King)
Velvet avoided a charging Bunny, took her down and hit a moonsault for two. Velvet hit a suicide dive that went straight outta your momma’s kitchen because she jumped way too far and nearly hurt herself badly. Bunny checked on Velvet immediately. Velvet was fine as she worked over Bunny with kicks. Velvet went up top, Bunny kicked her foot and Bunny kicked Velvet off the turnbuckle to the floor. Back in the ring, Bunny hit a charging forearm. They went to picture in picture break.
(Commercial)
Red Velvet was in control with a clothesline and a jumping kick to the head. Velvet hit a running Stunner for a two count. Velvet with a kick to the ribs, but then Bunny hit a superkick. Blade handed Bunny some brass knuckles, so Swole and King tried to tell the referee. Velvet with a kick to the knee and a spin kick to the head for the pinfall win after seven minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Red Velvet
Analysis: ** A short match where we only got to see about four minutes on the full screen. Red Velvet seems like she is getting a bit of a mild push and because she’s a babyface, it makes sense since can be a future challenger for champion Britt Baker. The Bunny was made to look inept for not being able to use a weapon properly.
The Dark Order guys were in their dressing room with the group wishing John Silver a happy birthday. Silver said that Tony Khan wanted to grant him a TNT Title shot, but he’s not cleared yet, so he’s giving it to Evil Uno.
Miro did a promo in somewhere with a red background. Miro thanked God for his power and his wife for being hot. (His wife WWE’s Lana got released this past week, so maybe she’ll be a AEW bound in three months.) Miro said that he found out that Evil Uno challenged Miro for the TNT Title. Miro said that Evil Uno is too emotionally involved for something that doesn’t belong to him. Miro said he’ll teach the locker room that you don’t come after somebody like him when you just think you may win. Miro said you come after somebody like him when you’re sure you can survive.
Analysis: This version of Miro is the best Miro there is. I like it.
The announcers did their “talk really fast while plugging upcoming events routine” as graphics appeared on screen.
* In three weeks on Saturday, June 26, Kenny Omega defends the AEW World Title against Jungle Boy. That’s the next live show. The next two weeks are taped although they don’t say that.
Next week Dynamite is Friday, June 11 at 10pm ET with these matches:
* Miro defends the TNT Title vs. Evil Uno.
* The Young Bucks & Brandon Cutler vs. Pac, Penta El Zero Miedo & Eddie Kingston. I assume Cutler is there to take the pin.
* Hangman Page & Dark Order’s 10 vs. Brian Cage & Powerhouse Hobbs
The main event introductions by Justin Roberts were next. They were really main eventing with this Bullrope Match. Dustin Rhodes made his entrance first with face point and he brought out the Bullrope to be used legally for the match.
(Commercial)
Bullrope Match: Dustin Rhodes vs. Nick Comoroto (w/Aaron Solow)
There are no disqualifications. You can win by pinfall or submission. The Texas Bullrope Match is where you touch all four corners to win. This is just a Bullrope Match.
Comoroto tossed Dustin off the ramp and into the ring. The referee put the other end of the bullrope on Comoroto’s left hand, so the match began. Dustin did a low blow using the rope to the groin. Comoroto tried a choke, so Dustin hit him with the bell to the head. Dustin with a clothesline that sent both guys over the top to the floor. Dustin did some more choking with the bullrope. Comoroto decked Dustin with a hard punch. Comoroto shoved a masked jobber and tossed him onto other jobbers at ringside. Dustin had to deal with Solow, so Comoroto hit a spear on Dustin on the floor. Comoroto was bleeding from the head. I don’t know when he bladed himself, but it was a solid blade job. They continued to fight on the floor with Comoroto sending Dustin into the ring apron.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Dustin choking Comoroto with a rope. Solow set up a table on the floor. JR: “Why can’t it just be one on one?” Because Cousin Tony K likes having 37 stables so wrestlers can be ringside for every match. Dustin got some momentum with a cowbell shot to the head. Comoroto caught Dustin on the apron and Comoroto gave the 52-year-old Dustin Rhodes a Powerbomb through the table. Ouch. That got a two count in the ring. Solow took a turnbuckle pad off, but then Colten Gunn from the Nightmare Family beat up Solow at ringside. Dustin hit a bulldog and the Final Reckoning twisting suplex for a one count. Dustin hit a kick to the groin, then two clotheslines, Comoroto with a kick to the body and Dustin sent Comoroto into the exposed steel. Dustin with the cowbell to the head. Dustin with a bulldog off the middle rope and he used the robe to hogtie the legs for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Dustin Rhodes
Analysis: **1/4 This was just an average match. It didn’t really feel like a big match or a main event. Dustin did a nice job of selling to make Comoroto look strong as the power guy in the match, but there were times when it seemed like Comoroto was lost a bit. They could have had more nearfalls in the match especially for Comoroto to make it look like he might win. I’m not sure why they felt that Dustin had to win when he’s the older guy, but I guess sometimes the old guys can win too.
Dustin Rhodes went into the crowd to celebrate with the fans. That’s how the show ended.
Three Stars of the Show
- Young Bucks
- Pac/Penta
- Jungle Boy/Christian
The Scoreboard
This Week: 6.5 out of 10
Last Week: 7
2021 Average: 7.35
Final Thoughts
This was one of the weaker episodes of Dynamite this year. I’m sure that being on a Friday night at 10pm plays a part in it because they know the audience is going to be smaller. That’s also why the best match with the Young Bucks facing Pac/Penta was on first because they probably knew people would be tuned out or asleep later on. The main event of Dustin Rhodes/Nick Comoroto is one of the weakest main events they’ve ever put on Dynamite. I like that they put over Jungle Boy/Christian in their tag team match because it was smart to continue to push Jungle Boy.
The most newsworthy thing that happened was Andrade El Idolo making his debut. That didn’t feel like that big of a deal because he only spoke for a couple of minutes and left. Long term, I think he’ll do well in AEW. At least I hope he does well.
Some stories from Double or Nothing were continued, which isn’t that much of a surprise. They have three months until the next PPV, so there’s not a rush to focus on that.
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Thanks for reading. Go Toronto Blue Jays. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter: @johnreport