The John Report: AEW Dynamite 06/28/23 Review
This week’s AEW Dynamite featured Sting & Darby Allin against Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara, plus Jon Moxley facing Tomohiro Ishii and more.
It’s the first Dynamite since AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door from last Sunday. It was a very good PPV as usual from AEW with the Will Ospreay-Kenny Omega match standing out as the best match. This week’s Dynamite (and they are taping Collision on Thursday) took place about one hour from me. I was thinking of going, but I felt lazy and stayed home.
The next major AEW event is All In at Wembley Stadium in London, England on Sunday, August 27th, yet we still have no idea if we can watch it on pay-per-view or how it will be shown to us. The All Out pay-per-view will be one week later.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #195 at the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. Check out the AEW PPV listing archive only on TJRWrestling as well. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means. Excalibur, Taz and Tony Schiavone were on commentary.
Jon Moxley and the Blackpool Combat Club’s ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta made their entrance from the back part of the arena. Tomohiro Ishii was the opponent since Ishii won for The Elite against the BCC at Forbidden Door.
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jon Moxley (w/Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta)
It started as a chop fest. They each did shoulder tackles and they both missed kick attacks. Moxley did some face biting, so Ishii bit some of Moxley’s head. Moxley got a shoulder tackle knockdown. Moxley did some gentle stomping while holding Ishii’s arms. With Ishii on the floor, Moxley hit a suicide dive on Ishii on the floor. There’s a lot of room on the floor in that area because I believe that’s where the Collision commentary table will be. Eddie Kingston made his entrance while the match was going on. Kingston grabbed a chair and wanted to fight Claudio. They went to a picture-in-picture break. I think Ishii was out of the ring for about two minutes while the referee didn’t count him out at all.
(Commercial)
Ishii was in control with a superplex while standing on the middle ropes. They did another stand and throw strikes sequence. After nearly a minute of that, Moxley hit a spinning elbow to the jaw. Moxley hit a cradle piledriver for two. Moxley with elbows and Ishii did a middle finger salute. Ishii hit a belly-to-back suplex that was no sold, Moxley hit a German Suplex that was no sold and Moxley hit a clothesline. Ishii with a clothesline. Moxley with a knee followed by Ishii with a knee. Moxley and Ishii did a double lariat spot where they collapsed to the mat. They delivered stiff headbutts to eachother, Moxley was bleeding because of it and Moxley hit a DDT for two. Moxley was a bloody mess as usual. Ishii hit his own version of a Paradigm Shift and a running lariat for two. Moxley came back with a Cutter that was no sold and Ishii hit a lariat for two. Moxley hit a knee to the gut and the Death Rider for two perhaps because Moxley was slow to cover. Ishii with a jumping kick, Moxley no sold that, Moxley with The Stomp (hey Seth) and Death Rider finishes it for Moxley after 15 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Jon Moxley
Analysis: ***1/2 A very good match that was physical with a lot of standing around and throwing strikes. I didn’t love everything like the double clothesline spot that looked silly, but I get that they were trying to show it was a physical match. I’d rather see people sell moves like suplexes as deadly moves instead of getting up right away and no selling it. Anyway, Ishii won at Forbidden Door, so now he loses to give Moxley a win. Moxley was a bloody mess as usual, just like in about 80% of his AEW matches.
After the match, Moxley left and bumped his left shoulder into Kingston. When Moxley was at the top of the ramp, Kingston congratulated Moxley for doing it by himself.
Adam Cole was shown arriving along with the AEW World Champion MJF in another car. They both had drivers. MJF congratulated Cole for being “sick” at Forbidden Door and MJF wishes he did that. MJF said that being tag team partners in the Blind Eliminator Tournament is a great thing because they can run this entire company together as a team. MJF suggests they bond and hang out this weekend. Cole sarcastically said sure, but told MJF not to touch him. Cole said he’ll say hello to a few people and he’ll see Max later. MJF got them tag team march: “Better Than You Bay Bay” and Cole didn’t seem impressed.
Analysis: MJF is great. Cole was fine in his role too as the reluctant that didn’t want to hang out with MJF.
(Commercial)
The Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta were backstage with Renee Paquette in concerned wife mode asking her husband Moxley what was going on out there? Moxley said that was some BS with Eddie Kingston coming out there. Eddie Kingston walked into the picture to argue with Moxley. Kingston said he has Moxley’s back, but you’re with a scumbag like Claudio. Renee told Jon that was enough and Renee told Eddie: “You better fix this. I’m done.” End scene.
Analysis: The drama continues. It seems like they are building to Eddie against Moxley even though we know they are close friends.
They showed highlights of the Ospreay-Omega classic at Forbidden Door. I rated it five stars out of five. It was an all-time great AEW match. They showed comments from Kenny Omega saying it’s not over and he’ll be back.
Orange Cassidy, El Hijo Del Vikingo & Keith Lee vs. Jericho Appreciation Society – Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker
The babyface trio is random, but I guess that’s the point of it. The JAS guys are there to do the job and we all know it. Lee has black hair again after letting it go white I the past. Vikingo with an armdrag on Garcia. Orange tagged in for some comedy wrestling with Parker involving a comb. Orange hit a running dropkick on Menard & Parker. Orange twisted up Garcia leading to Vikingo hitting a double foot stomp on Garcia. Vikingo hit a running SSP on Garcia for two. Menard grabbed Vikingo’s leg to trip him up and Garcia hit a running kick on Vikingo. Parker hit a double axhandle off the top and a suplex. Garcia hit a belly-to-back suplex on Vikingo.
(Commercial)
The heels were in control of Vikingo as Menard hit him with a Powerbomb. Garcia with a corner clothesline on Vikingo and Parker with an elbow drop for two. Parker and Menard tried a cheap shot on Lee, who wasn’t impressed. Lee tagged in with a cross body block along with strikes. The heels knocked down Lee, then Garcia tried some dance moves and Lee clotheslined Menard/Parker while Garcia was on Lee’s back. Lee with a double-handed chop. Vikingo with a rising kick on Garcia. Vikingo tried for a dive over the top, but the heels moved and Vikingo hit Lee by accident. Lee picked up Vikingo to use him as a battering ram. Vikingo hit a moonsault off the top onto two guys on the floor while Orange tagged in. Garcia was legal for his team as he hit a piledriver for two. Orange got a pin attempt for two. Garcia with a Dragontamer submission, but Vikingo made the save. Parker sent Vikingo out of the ring and Orange hit an Orange Punch on Parker. Lee was legal against Menard couldn’t knock Lee down. Lee hit a slam off the shoulders called the Super Nova for the pinfall win after 13 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Orange Cassidy, El Hijo Del Vikingo & Keith Lee
Analysis: **3/4 It was an average tag team match to me. I know they had the spots where the faces weren’t working well together due to unfamiliarity and that’s fine. The problem in a match like this is you know the heels had no chance of winning, so it wasn’t that interesting. I’d have booked the faces to win in a more dominant way. Vikingo showed off his athleticism as usual, Orange had the comedy spots and Lee was booked strong. Lee is one of the most poorly used guys in all of AEW and they need to start utilizing him more.
Post match, Orange Cassidy put some sunglasses on Vikingo and Lee celebrated with them.
The Elite’s “Hangman” Adam Page and The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) did a backstage promo talking about how they had a victory at Forbidden Door. Page said they had an Open Challenge in a trios match. The Dark Order losers walked into the picture with John Silver saying they are accepting the challenge. Alex Reynolds said they are there to talk to Page. Evil Uno said that Page hasn’t talked to them or hung out with them and said he has ignored them. Page said The Elite needed him against the Blackpool guys. Reynolds said they were with Page at his lowest point. Reynolds said tonight they aren’t friends, they are opponents. That was from earlier tonight, I guess.
Analysis: This makes “Hangman” Adam Page look like a jerk for not being friends with Dark Order even though they were his friends. Dark Order barely gets TV time even though they are good performers, especially Silver.
They showed highlights of Bryan Danielson beating Kazuchika Okada in the main event of Forbidden Door. Bryan won the match even though he had a broken bone in his right arm in the last ten minutes of the match.
We will hear from “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry, who turned heel at Forbidden Door.
(Commercial)
Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara were interviewed by Renee Paquette, who mentioned Jericho will be tapping into the Painmaker. Jericho said just a few days ago, he was in the ring with Sting for the first time. Jericho said that tonight, Sting gets his nightmare by facing the Painmaker while saying Sting knows about being dark and desperate when your back is against the wall. Jericho said if you want to get dirty, let’s get dirty. Sammy didn’t say a word.
Analysis: They teased the Jericho-Guevara problems a few weeks ago, but it wasn’t really followed up here.
Dark Order – John Silver, Evil Uno & Alex Reynolds vs. The Elite – “Hangman” Adam Page and The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)
Nick and Reynolds did a routine with some armdrags and counters by both guys. Nick hit a corkscrew armdrag off the ropes. Silver tagged in to say he wanted to face Page. That led to Page hitting a shoulder tackle on Silver, who shouted: “I’m freaking jacked, baby.” Silver elbowed Page in the jaw leading to Matt tagging in against Uno. There a shoulder tackle by Uno on Matt and Uno punched Page off the apron to the floor. Young Bucks did their random running into the ring tag team offense without making a tag. That led to a neckbreaker/backbreaker combo and Uno clotheslined both Bucks. Both Young Bucks delivered superkicks on Uno to knock him out of the ring. Matt and Nick each hit dives off the top onto the opponents on the floor. Page tagged in, but then he brought Nick in because Page is conflicted. They went to a picture-in-picture break.
(Commercial)
Reynolds sent Matt into the turnbuckle and Nick accidentally kicked his bother Matt. Uno tagged in with a kicks and clotheslines along with a vertical suplex. Uno hit a neckbreaker on Nick and a piledrive, but Hangman was there to make the save. Uno punched Page in the face, then Page went to the corner and tagged himself in. Matt was in illegally and Nick too, but Uno sent them both out of the ring. Page kicked Uno up and Silver illegally into the ring with a dropkick. Dark Order did a bunch of moves on the floor. All three Dark Order guys were in the ring, which isn’t legal of course and Silver/Reynolds did a combo series of moves for a two count. Matt and Nick saved Hangman from a triple team attack. Nick hit a facebuster and moonsault combo. Page hit a lariat on Silver. Young Bucks hit suicide dives on the floor. Silver caught Hangman with a hurricanrana for two. Hangman hit Deadeye on Silver. Young Bucks in illegally with a BTE Trigger and Page hit the Buckshot Lariat for the pinfall win after 14 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Elite – “Hangman” Adam Page and The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)
Analysis: ***1/4 It’s another match on this show where you know The Elite are going to win while the Dark Order is going to lose, so it’s hard to get that into it. Silver did almost get the win near the end of the match at least. The Elite guys work well together and of course they got the win here. The Dark Order should be used better. They have been in the company for four years and barely get any TV time. Hangman’s conflicted feelings were the main story of this match.
The Blackpool Combat Club trio of Moxley, Castagnoli and Yuta jumped into the ring to attack The Elite trio. The Dark Order guys didn’t even try to make a save. Moxley attacked Hangman with a screwdriver to the head. Yuta gave Nick Jackson a brainbuster onto a chair. Konosuke Takeshita was in the ring with the BCC guys. Eddie Kingston tried to make the save, but Yuta applied an armbar and Claudio sat on Kingston’s upper body to keep him down. Claudio hit the left arm of Kingston with a steel chair, but the main camera missed it.
Jon Moxley said it’s about time to finish this. Moxley said July 19th on AEW Dynamite at the TD Garden in Boston…BLOOD AND GUTS! The graphic was shown immediately right after it to show that Moxley is a good employee and it’s not exactly an impromptu thing. Hangman Page was a bloody mess after the screwdriver attack to the head.
Analysis: I think we all assumed it would lead to a Blood & Guts (AEW’s version of WarGames) match, so now we know the date of it. The BCC will be missing Bryan Danielson due to his arm injury, but they can use Konosuke Takeshita and likely find somebody else to be on the team. The Elite can use Hangman Page, Kenny Omega, both of The Young Bucks and I assume Eddie Kingston too.
There were promos featuring wrestlers that are in the Owen Hart Cup tournament. I still don’t know how a company that has Canadian wrestlers that named a tournament after a Canadian wrestler ends up having no Canadian wrestlers in the men’s and women’s tournament with most of the shows taking place in Canada. Weird.
(Commercial)
Adam Cole was backstage talking to Roderick Strong with MJF walking up to them calling Strong “generic white guy.” MJF told Cole they should get out of there because this place sucks. Cole hugged Strong and wished him good luck against Samoa Joe. Cole left with MJF.
They replayed “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry turning heel after his Forbidden Door loss by hitting Hook with a clothesline. Hook sold that clothesline like the most devastating move in wrestling history while most AEW wrestlers don’t sell enough.
Let’s Hear from “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry
Jack Perry is a heel now so he was wearing a brown jacket along with shades because wearing shades is part of the newly turned heel playbook. Jack told AEW to shut the “Tarzan Boy” song off and said we won’t hear it ever again. Jack trashed the fans for being stuck there with wildfires while he’s going to get in a car to the airport. Jack got into the ring.
Jack said that he is still young, cashing fat checks and banging the “hottest bitch in this entire place.” That would be his girlfriend Anna Jay, in case you don’t know. Jack winked into the camera. Jack mentioned wanting to ask Toronto a question, but it’s Hamilton (an hour away) so the fans booed. Jack wondered if he turned on Hook or if Hook turned on him. Jack whined about losing out on two World Championships while Hook dangles his championship in Jack’s face. Jack said that the FTW Title isn’t even recognized by this company. Jack called Hook a fraud. Jack claimed JungleHook was special because of him while Jack used to be a Tag Team Champion when he was in a team and Hook was lucky to stand next to Jack. Jack said he knows what that title means to Hook and his family – he looked at Taz, who is Hook’s dad. The fans chanted “Asshole” so Jack said they were talking to Taz. Jack said he’s going to take the FTW Title from Hook. Jack said when he gets his hands on Hook he’s going to beat the shit…and here comes Hook.
Hook ran out to the ring, then Jack left the ring and jumped over the barricade. Jack ran to the back with Hook in pursuit. Taz said that Jack is going to get caught and Hook is going to kick his ass.
Analysis: It was a decent heel promo from Jack doing the usual heel thing blaming others for his failures. Just because Jack is frustrated that he lost another title match is not a valid reason to turn on Hook, so that’s why the fans are going to boo Jack for his actions. I don’t know about JungleHook being a special team because they won four or five matches together, but I guess we’re supposed to think it was a big deal. Anyway, saying you are making money, banging a hot chick (hey Anna Jay) and wearing sunglasses indoors makes you a cocky jerk, so I mean it was right out of the Heel 101 playbook.
They showed Jack Perry running away from Hook, then Jack jumped into the back seat of a car while Hook was in hot pursuit. Jack’s car drove off while Hook walked back into the arena.
Sammy Guevara appeared on the stage with his cue cards to entertain the fans during a picture-in-picture break.
(Commercial)
Ruby Soho (w/Saraya & Toni Storm) vs. Alexia Nicole
This was supposed to be Ruby against Britt Baker in an Owen Hart Cup match, but Britt is out with an illness, so the match will be next week. Ruby was in control with punches. Ruby tossed Nicole out of the ring so that Storm and Saraya can do some cheap shot kicks. Back in the ring, Ruby hit two belly-to-back suplexes for two with Ruby picking up Nicole’s head. Ruby grabbed the referee’s black glove and did a Britt Baker style Lockjaw submission with glove for the submission win. It went two minutes.
Winner by submission: Ruby Soho
Analysis: 1/2* A short match to put over Ruby. I assume her match against Baker would have been longer than this, but they only gave this match two minutes.
After the match, Ruby sprayed some spray paint on Nicole. Ruby blamed the fans for Britt Baker because of our germ-ridden country. Ruby trashed Britt and Adam Cole for being weak while saying she hopes they don’t have kids. Ruby said she loves who she is now standing beside these women. Ruby stared into the camera saying Britt barely beat Ruby in the finals on her best day. Britt said she’ll prevent Britt from winning the Owen Hart Cup again and Britt will be left with nothing.
Analysis: The promo was solid. They had a short match so that Ruby had some time for the promo. She made her points well. I think Britt will win next week.
They showed a clip from last week on Rampage when Anthony Bowens told the lovely Harley Cameron that he’s gay and the fans chanted. The fans chanted “He’s Gay” too.
Analysis: That was done really well. It got a lot of views on social media too.
They showed QT Marshall along with Johnny TV (John Morrison) and Harley Cameron. Johnny said that QTV and Johnny TV always make hits. They are in a match on Rampage against Matt Hardy and Brother Zay.
Analysis: Johnny TV is a dumb name, but I think he’s a good addition. Plus, Johnny’s wife Taya Valkyrie works there, so it’s not a shock that he signed with AEW too.
There was a rundown of matches on Rampage and Collision with Excalibur talking really fast as usual. Lots of matches. Lots of shows.
Sting & Darby Allin made their entrance for the Tornado Tag Team main event. Sting has never lost in AEW. Sting is 16-0 and it’s all tag team matches. Sammy Guevara made his entrance first followed by “The Painmaker” Chris Jericho up last wearing his jacket that has spikes on it, he had a mask/hat combo for his entrance and his face had makeup on it.
Tornado Tag Team Match: “The Painmaker” Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara vs. Sting & Darby Allin
There are no rules and no tags in this match. It can end by pinfall or submission. Allin went after Sammy on the floor. Sting was wrestling in a sweatshirt and pants. Jericho and Sting got into a joust battle. Sting hit Jericho in the ribs a few times, Allin hit a splash on Jericho and Sting hit a Stinger Splash. Sammy hit a Cutter off the top on Allin. Jericho and Sting were on the floor, so Jericho whipped Sting into the barricade. Jericho worked over Allin with a chair to the back. Sammy sent Allin into the steel steps. Jericho suplexed Allin back-first onto the ring apron. Allin was sent over the barricade leading to a break.
(Commercial)
The match returned with about eight minutes left in the show. Sammy jumped off the barricade with a Cutter on Allin on the floor. Sting was punching both of his opponents, so Allin jumped off the top with a Coffin Drop on Sammy on the floor. Sting hit a Stinger Splash on Jericho against the barricade. Allin brought a table from under the ring and Sting did too. Allin set up a ladder against the ropes near where the table was. Sting beat up Sammy a bit with a chair. Allin climbed the ladder, but then Sting climbed up and said he wanted to do it. They had a shocked fan reaction. Sting was about halfway to the top of the ladder while Allin and a referee were holding the ladder. Sting jumped off…and he hit Sammy’s knees with his chin while landing hard on his legs. Excalibur claimed that Sting “crushes Sammy Guevara” but Sting really barely touched the guy. The table did break at least. The first table broke, but the second table did not. Allin hit a dive onto Jericho on the other side of the ring. Allin jumped off the top with a skateboard on Jericho’s back for a two count. Jericho sent a charging Allin into the ladder. Jericho beat up Allin with some ladder shot shots to the body. Allin sent Jericho into the ladder that was on the top rope. The camera then showed Jericho take a blade out of his hand and cut himself on the forehead. DO NOT SHOW THAT ON CAMERA! AEW director, you need to be better at that. That’s the last thing you should be showing. Allin tried a springboard attack, but Jericho hit him with a skateboard. Jericho was bloody from the forehead. Jericho hit a Judas Effect outfit on Allin to knock him out of the ring. Sting was back in, Jericho countered a move and Jericho applied the Walls of Jericho submission. Very lightly because he barely sat down on it. Sting got the baseball bat and hit Jericho in the head with it. Sting hit a Stinger Splash, but Jericho came back with a Codebreaker for two. Sting hit a Scorpion Death Drop (reverse DDT) for two. Jericho with a boot, then he tried a Codebreaker and Sting caught him leading to a Scorpion Deathlock submission. Jericho tapped out to give Sting the win. It went 13 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Sting & Darby Allin
Analysis: ***1/4 It’s a Sting match, so you know he’s going to win and that’s what happened as usual. I like Sting as much as any fan, but please stop doing stupid leaps off high objects just to get a cheap pop. You don’t have to do it. For a man in his 60s, you are risking serious injury as well. Sting looks exhausted when he’s in there too, so I don’t know how smart it is to do a Tornado Tag Team Match. This match didn’t help Sammy Guevara at all since he barely did anything and was out of the last five minutes of the match due to one table bump where Sting looked like he hurt himself more than Sammy. Anyway, the Jericho/Sting parts were fun towards the end. Allin was just sort of there, but not a big part of the match.
There was no time left in the show, so they cut out after about 10 seconds after the match as Sting laid on the mat while Excalibur was screaming about things coming up. End show.
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Three Stars of the Show
- John Moxley-Tomohiro Ishii
- Sting & Darby Allin
- Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 7 out of 10
Last Week: 7.25
2023 Average: 7.47
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Final Thoughts
It was a solid show, but I don’t think it was great at any point. The Tornado Tag Team Match main event with Sting & Darby Allin beating Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara had some memorable moments. Watching Sting, who is in his 60s, jumping off a ladder to land on Sammy’s legs with his chin because he couldn’t jump far enough to complete the splash is an example of something you shouldn’t do. I like and respect Sting a lot, but I hope he really does retire soon. Don’t hurt yourself doing a stupid bump for a cheap pop when you don’t have to do it. Instead of saying “wow that’s amazing” it leaves fans wondering if that old guy is able to walk after something like that. Sting’s chin landing on Sammy’s knees was not a good visual at all.
There were five matches on the show and the women’s match only got two minutes. I know Britt Baker was sick so her match with Ruby Soho was postponed, but it still sucks for the women’s division that they only get two minutes on the show. Three of those matches were tag team matches. Those three tags all had predictable outcomes. You know the JAS job guys are losing and the Dark Order has no chance in those matches. The Moxley-Ishii match was good, but I like my pro wrestling where guys actually sell big moves instead of no selling and then doing more moves after. I do appreciate the hard-hitting style. I’m glad Keith Lee got the win in his tag team match although I don’t know if AEW will book him the right way as a singles star.
Jack Perry did the prototypical new heel promo. He had the sunglasses on, he talked about making a lot of money, banging a hot chick (that would be his girlfriend Anna Jay), and complained about things like a new heel should do. I don’t know if it was that effective, but I hope he does well. There have been stronger episodes of Dynamite in the last month or two, but it was fine overall.
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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